As a member of NYPD SHIELD, a counterterrorism program of the New York City Police Department, I am privileged to attend conferences and receive alerts on terrorism incidents and prevention.
This notable public-private partnership is based on providing best practices, lessons learned, counterterrorism training opportunities, and information sharing.
Participation in this program is a reminder of the changing realities of terror, and to work together to prevent incidents. It is critical that other law enforcement agencies nationwide, in partnership with private security professionals, and the community implement comparable programs.
Terrorism is a reality of our times, and we must enhance our vigilance, leadership, and unity of effort to protect our homeland.
France Attack: NYPD SHIELD Alert
On the morning of July 26, I received an email alert from NYPD SHIELD on another terror attack in France.
Unfortunately, due to the accelerating terror climate these attacks have increased in frequency in France, internationally, and on American soil as well.
In this most recent alert, NYPD SHIELD provided a link to open source media about this attack at a Roman Catholic Church in Normandy. In this attack, a priest was cowardly assassinated and numerous hostages taken.
The French President Francois Hollande stated that this attack was committed in the name of the Islamic State (ISIS).
Any murder violates the most sacred principle of humanity and is a desecration of every religion. But this killing in a sacred place, where people come for sanctuary and pray for forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, and divine assistance, is horrific beyond words.
Terrorism Accelerating Internationally
These are only some of the deadly terror attacks that have taken place internationally and remind us that the world can be a dangerous place:
July 24, 2016: An individual who pledged allegiance to ISIS, detonated a bomb at a bar in Ansbach, Germany, killing himself and wounding 15 people.
July 23: Two suicide bombers killed over 80 people and wounded 230 at a rally in Kabul, Afghanistan. ISIS claimed responsibility.
July 3: At least 325 are killed and over 200 wounded in coordinated bomb attacks, one in a busy market, in Baghdad, Iraq.
June 28: At least 41 people are killed at Ataturk International Airport in Turkey by three suicide bombers who detonated explosives.
March 22: At least 32 people are killed and 300 wounded in explosions at the Brussels Airport and a downtown shop.
November 13, 2015: 130 people are killed and hundreds wounded in a series of attacks by terrorists at a rock concert, cafes, and a stadium in Paris.
